Throwback Thursday: Insurance levy for smokers
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to August 1975 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when a report recommended smokers cough up for cover.
21 August 1975: Insurance levy for smokers
Anti-smoking charity recommended smokers should be compulsorily insured by means of a levy on each packet of cigarettes.
Action on Smoking and Health pointed out a 3p per packet levy would raise at least £210m a year, which could be used to compensate smokers and their families for the impact of the habit on their health.
According to Department of Health estimates at the time, one in seven of all deaths under the age of 75 was due to smoking.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@postonline.co.uk or view our subscription options here: https://subscriptions.postonline.co.uk/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@postonline.co.uk to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@postonline.co.uk to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@postonline.co.uk
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@postonline.co.uk
More on Claims
Ecclesiastical claims approach under fire from abuse survivor
A sexual assault survivor has questioned why Ecclesiastical is refusing to pay a claim for a recent attack when a previous, similar claim he made was accepted and settled by the insurer more than a decade ago.
Why shipbuilding insurance is making waves in marine risk
Shipbuilding insurance, once a niche part of marine cover, is now expanding rapidly. Fiona Nicolson unpicks the complex projects, new technologies, and sustainability trends that are reshaping global ship construction and the risks insurers must navigate.
Domestic & General snapped up by US firm
Domestic & General has been acquired by US-based insurance company Asurion, with the deal expected to close in mid-2026.
Big Interview: Donna Scully, Carpenters Group
Donna Scully, director and co-owner of Carpenters Group, discusses with Insurance Post the challenges of her upbringing and its positive impact in ensuring both her business and personal causes are approached with kindness.
Which? super-complaint shows insurance is a race to the bottom
James Daley, managing director of Fairer Finance, argues Which’s super-complaint lays bare long-standing problems in policy quality, claims performance and comparison-site competition and pushes for better purchase information to halt the industry’s slide toward a race to the bottom.
Carpenters Group open to private equity investment
Carpenters Group is open to private equity investment after over 30 years of bootstrapping, according to director and owner Donna Scully.
Carpenters’ Scully urges no government ‘gaslighting’ in whiplash review
Donna Scully, director and owner of Carpenters Group, has called for the government to avoid “gaslighting” the industry in its whiplash review consultation.
Video Q&A: Shift Technology’s George Robbins on Agentic AI and claims transformation
In the latest Insurance Post video we caught up with Shift Technology’s head of UK, Ireland and Nordics George Robbins to discuss the key areas that insurers need to consider when thinking about using Agentic AI in claims transformation.